Boiler tube cleaner



Dec. 6, 1932. D.'W. GROVES 1,889,859

' BOILER TUBE CLEANER Filed March 8, 1950 5 8 041 we W.L; 0v5' ByMKM Altor ne y Patented Dec. 6, 1 932 UNITED stares PA/TENTOFFICE,

DAVID w. (moves, or comm DALENE, IDAHO BOILERTUBE CLEANER Applicationfiled March 8, 930. Serial No. 434,264.

My present invention relates to improve ments in boller tubecleaners andthe invention is embodied in bearing head of the fixture or attachmentby means of which the cleaner is conveniently located and supported inthe front space or combustion chamber of the horizontal return tubulartype of boiler.

In carrying out my invention I utilize steam pressure, and providerotary means,

preferably under manual control and operaa journal bearing or bearinghead adjacent the front ends of the boiler tubes, and which may beinstalled with facility, and conveniently manipulated at requiredintervals for maintaining the boiler in mosteilicient operativecondition. I

The invention consists incertain novel combinations and arrangement ofparts in the bearing head of the tube cleaner as will here: inafter bemore fully set forth and claimed.

In the accompanying drawing I have illustrated' one complete example ofthe physical embodiment of my invention, wherein the parts are combinedand arranged according to one mode I have thus far devised for thepractical application of the principles of my invention.

Figure 1 is a view at the front of a boiler, with its doors open, anddisclosing the installation of the-tube cleaner'of my inven tion. I

Figure 2 is ahorizontal sectional view. at line 22 of Figurel. I

Figure 3 is an enlarged, detail sectional view showing the journalbearing for the steam distributing pipe, the steam ports, and crankhandle. V

Figure'el is an edge view of one of the steam nozzles, and Figure is aside view of one of the steam nozzles.

and.

V In orderthat the general arrangement and relation of parts may readilybeunderstood I have shown in Figures 1 and 2 part of a boiler of thehorizontalreturn tubular type, 4

the boiler beingqindicated by the numeral 1 1 and the tubes as 2.Theusual side 'walls '3 and combustion chamber or front space l of Q theboiler are illustrated, and-the front doors 5'ar1d 6 are hinged as usualat 7 for enclosing,

the combustion chamberor frontspace,

In equipping theboiler with ,the device of my invention I preferably usea pair of .notches' 8', which together form, a central opening inthe'doors 5 andfiwhen' the latter are closed, and which opening isutilized in the" operation of the device.

A cross beam 9, of metal, is built into the side walls of the furnaceand located in hori zontal position just below the axial line of theboiler for supporting the cleaner.

fianges 11 and bolts 12 on the upper side of the cross beam 9 forsupporting'the rotary partof the cleaner, and a live steam pipe 18, froma suitable source of supply is connected at lrto furnish steam to thebearing head. 7

When the cleaner is to be utilized, a cut off valve" 15,111 the steampipe,exterior of the furnace, isopened to admit steam to the hollowbearinghead, and from the head the ports or longitudinal slotsj18 forpassage of distributing pipe while the latter is revolving on itsjournal. 8 At itsvouter end the journal is provided with a closed'head19 and the head is fashioned with a threaded boss 20 and shank 21 Iprojecting from the bearing head 10. A1 washer 20aandanut 22 on thethreaded boss are'used to close the smaller end of the ta pered bearinghead, and the larger end of this bearing head is closed by itsengagement- 7 with the tapered journal of the distributing pipe, thejournal and shank 21. of course beingrevolvable with the distributing.arm: 16 f A hollowbearing head lOis attachedbyits steam is distributedthrough a distributing pipe 16. This pipe is fashioned with .a,ta-

' pered, angular, journal 17 which is rotatable in the bearing head andfashioned with steam 85 the steam from the head to the interior of the rLetters Patent is v r I V In a bearing head for a boiler cleaner, the

as it swings in a vertical plane on front of the tubes. 7

A crank handle 23 is attached on the squared end of the'shank, after thedoors 5 and 6 are closed, and the distributing pipe is swung in a circleand in a vertical plane in the combustionchamber or front space of theboiler as the crank handleis turnedlby hand outside of the doors. 1

As seen in Figure, 1 the distributing pipe may be fashioned along thelines of a compound curve and it is of sufficient length to i i thecircumferential periphery of the boiler. Along the inner side of thepipe are arranged arow of nozzles 24 which are threaded in the wall of.the pipeby means of bosses 25. The

nozzles as shown in Figures and 5 are flat I and are tapered, with theirwalls converging toward the mouth of the nozzle to increase the velocityof the et, of steam rushing from g the nozzle and directed intothetubes.

I The nozzles are arranged with their flat sides parallel with the axialline of thesteam distributing pipe,- and vthe nozzles are, spaced aparta distance less than the distance be tween centers of the boiler tubesin order that, as the pipeswings aroundin its circular path, the nozzleswill direct a jet of steam into all of. the tubes of the boiler, and inthis manner the steam jets reachevery part of the tubular structure forcleansing the tubes. Having thus fully described my invention, what Iclaim as new. and desire to secure by combinationwith an open-end,taperedhead and a. steam supply pipe connected thereto,

of a ported, tapered, hollow journal ,supf i I ported in said head andprovided with a rear I closed end,-'a threaded boss on said end, awasher on'the boss closing the rear end of i the hollow'head, a lock nuton theboss, and

means united with the threaded boss for turning the hollow journal.

In testimony whereoflafiii; my signature. I

5 DAVID: 1V, GROVES.

